Many words, concerns and sentiments have been expressed and exchanged over the last two months in support of Ukraine and against Russian aggression.
Such verbal statements of moral support are a nice first step, but now is the time for action rather than words. Ukraine’s universities, faculty and students need help. Support is needed from democratic countries as well as international organisations and individual institutions of higher learning.
One would naturally assume that the World Bank should serve as one of the leading international agencies when it comes to the provision of aid to Ukraine’s universities. But the history of World Bank-funded educational projects in Ukraine is not particularly strong.
Just recently, the World Bank launched its first project in Ukraine’s higher education sector. The five-year project, entitled “Ukraine Improving Higher Education for Results Project”, comes with an approved US$200 million loan.
Through this project, the World Bank aims to improve efficiency and the conditions for quality and transparency in Ukraine’s higher education system. The project is also focused on increasing the relevance of Ukraine’s higher education in respect of the needs of the national and global labour markets.
The World Bank loan will be spent on the modernisation of teaching and research facilities and of the digital learning infrastructure of Ukraine’s universities, including infrastructure for distance learning. In addition, it will fund the creation of advanced teaching and research laboratories and learning support facilities.
Just a few days ago, Ukraine received a tranche of US$88.6 million from the World Bank to cover the costs incurred by the Ukrainian government when it comes to academic and social stipends. Given that US$10.5 million has already been spent on the World Bank’s higher education project, this constitutes half of all the project funds of US$200 million.
More information: https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20220425152400634